The Senate has resolved to investigate the recent demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory and has set up an investigative committee to investigate the matter.
The resolution was made after a motion was moved during Thursday’s plenary by Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing FCT Senatorial District, who called the attention of the Senate to the matter.
She also expressed concern over the alleged illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions, including estates already marked.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) seconded the motion, saying the exercise should be stopped pending the outcome of the Senate investigation into the matter.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Godwswill Akpabio, said the Senate cannot outrightly prevent the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, from demolishing structures in the nation’s capital.
Akpabio, however, explained that all demolitions could not be stopped because the courts ordered some.
He said, “The minister would continue with the demolition of structures ordered by the courts in order not to be culpable of disobeying court orders.”
The Senate resolved to set up an investigative committee to look into the demolitions and report back to it within a specified timeframe.
The Red Chamber also asked the committee to invite Wike to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents without homes.
It also resolved that all structures marked for demolition in the FCT, not ordered by the courts, should not be tampered with until its committee interfaces with the FCT minister and reports back to the committee of the whole for further actions.
Wike has been criticised for embarking on widespread demolition of houses in Abuja.
A construction company, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, had recently raised the alarm over a demolition notice issued by the Federal Capital Development Authority to demolish its estate in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.
The General Manager of the Estate, Vincent Enoghase, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, claimed that the FCDA had demanded N10 million for a Right of Occupancy, which it had paid but was yet to receive before the issuance of the quit notice.
Meanwhile, Wike has vowed to continue demolishing properties illegally built on government lands.
Speaking during the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike stated that he won’t be swayed by blackmail.
Wike said the structures being demolished were illegally built on government lands and gotten by land grabbers, adding that some of the structures pose security risks.
The minister insisted there was no going back and vowed to go after more illegally constructed buildings and shanties.
He said, “Let me use this opportunity to tell Nigerians and residents of Abuja we are not afraid of blackmailing. In fact, you cannot be in this kind of position, and you cannot be blackmailed, particularly regarding this Abuja. There are so many land grabbers. Some of us have come to put our feet down. Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven.
“We would stop anybody who thinks they will take government land for whatever reason with formal approval. We would not look at your face. If you like, be a civil rights activist or a television personality. What is wrong is wrong; no amount of blackmail can stop us. People take government property without approval or documentation.
“People take government property without approval, without documents. And I have told people that there was a government yesterday, and the government did not take any step, but that does not mean that another government will come today and will not take steps”.
“You are a squatter. If you like, go and carry everybody. What is wrong is wrong. You go back, you tell people to beg me, then you go on television to tell people that they came to take your land, and you said the land was allocated to a Rivers man. So what? Is a Rivers man not entitled to land in Abuja? You tell me who that person is who is entitled to have land in Abuja.”
The minister also warned persons who still owed ground rents in the FCT to pay up or risk their titles being revoked.
He said, “All those who have not paid, who thought we were joking, I am going to revoke all. I am going to do it. You think nothing will happen; something will happen. Go and check your records. If you have not paid, I will give you time to pay. But once the time expires, forget it. I will revoke it and allocate it to those who will pay.”
Wike urged the security agencies to use the provided vehicles to ensure the safety of lives and property in the FCT, especially during the Yuletide season, noting that security was a priority function of any government.
Of the 50 vehicles, 25 were allocated to the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police Force; five each to the FCT Department of State Services, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, and the Nigerian Army Guards Brigade; two each for the Abuja Naval Unit and Nigeria Air Force Camp Abuja; while the remaining six were allocated to the Secretaries, Departments and Agencies of the FCT.
